Category: WWE

The New Day To Induct The Fabulous Freebirds Into WWE Hall Of Fame

Source: WWE.com

WWE issued the following:

The Fabulous Freebirds revolutionized tag team wrestling in their heyday, and now, one of the biggest beneficiaries of their innovations will induct them into the WWE Hall of Fame. Before a sold-out American Airlines Center and a worldwide audience watching on WWE Network, reigning WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day will present Michael “P.S.” Hayes, Terry Gordy, Buddy Roberts and Jimmy Garvin  as members of the Hall’s Class of 2016.

“You talk about smooth tag team wrestling and people that wrestled like a family, the Freebirds were one of the first wrestling families that were able to take over,” Kofi Kingston told WWE.com.

Full WWE Hall of Fame coverage

The tie that binds these two factions is the “Freebird Rule” Hayes and his crew created, allowing any two members of their team to participate in a match or defend their titles. Kofi Kingston, Big E and Xavier Woods have used the Freebird Rule to their advantage, using it to hang on to the WWE Tag Team Titles during their two reigns as champions.

“The Freebird Rule has helped The New Day in many ways,” Xavier Woods said. “It allows us to create a different kind of strategy against our opponents that no other team has. You don’t know if you’re going up against Kofi and Big E, Kofi and myself, or Big E and myself.  We have different strategies for different opponents. You never know what you’re going to get, like a box of Booty-Os.”

And just how does the always entertaining trio plan on honoring the Freebirds? WWE.com tried to get Kingston, Woods and Big E to offer a hint, but The New Day would not budge.

“Oh, you want our secrets, huh? You want us to open our box of secrets?” Big E replied. “No, sir! You have to wait and see!”

How will The New Day pay homage to one of sports-entertainment’s most influential factions? Find out when the WWE Tag Team Champions induct The Fabulous Freebirds into the WWE Hall of Fame on Saturday, April 2, live at 8 ET/5 PT, only on WWE Network!

Randy Orton Returning To WWE TV Next Month?

Source: WrestlingINC

For what it’s worth, FOX Sports Radio 1340 in the Washington, DC area posted this tweet that says Randy Orton will be back on WWE TV in April.

Back in January Orton denied reports that he might need neck surgery as he was still recovering from shoulder surgery he had in late 2015. The latest we heard on his return was that he was not a lock for WrestleMania 32 but they expected him back any time between mid-March and May.

AJ Styles Deals With Bomb Scare At Airport

Source: WrestlingINC

AJ Styles was apparently at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta this morning, which had the north and south terminals evacuated after a suspicious package was found. According to AJC.com, an unattended bag in the south terminal had a “positive hit” from the K9 explosives team, although the bag was later cleared. Officials have not commented on the contents of the bag. Rumors of an active shooter at the airport proved to be false.

The terminals have re-opened, although the incident remains under investigation.

Styles posted these tweets today:

Theme Music Announced For NXT TakeOver: Dallas

WWE World Heavyweight Champion Triple H announced today that WWE NXT “Takeover: Dallas” will feature music from Halestorm, Yelawolf and Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes. Yelawolf’s “Fiddle Me This” single is the official theme song.

NXT Preview: 3/23/16

The following is scheduled for tonight’s 3/23 WWE NXT on the WWE Network:

Asuka vs. Emma

NXT Champion Finn Balor vs. Rich Swann

Alexa Bliss vs. Sarah Dobson

Elias Samson vs. Johnny Gargano

Bull Dempsey vs. Danny Birch

Kurt Angle On Why He Left TNA, Possible WWE Return

Source: WrestlingNews.co

 Kurt Angle recently appeared on Live Audio Wrestling to talk about his TNA departure and more. Here are the highlights.

On leaving TNA:

I did this on purpose. I needed a break. I’ve been under contract for the past 17 years and didn’t have much time to spend with my family. I just wanted to do my own thing for a year. I finished up my contract with TNA, I was really happy with my career there, very happy with my career in WWE. I really don’t have much else to prove, I’m not going to be retiring though. I will be coming back to wrestling eventually. I’ve been signing contracts mainly because of the money. Thank god, the money has always been good for me. WWE and TNA, they’ve both treated really well but I just got to the point where I wanted to do my own thing for a little while. I didn’t want to be obligated to going anywhere, I wanted to do my own thing and see how that goes, see where it takes me. I also wanted to start working on my acting career, I signed with an agency, APA in Hollywood. I’ve been doing some reads, just doing my own thing. I like it, it’s good to be off and not have to worry about showing up somewhere every week.

On a possible WWE return:

We’ll see what happens. I haven’t talked to TNA or WWE about doing anything in the future. I want to take this whole year off but I will start talking negotiations in the fall. We’ll see what happens but yes, it does feel good. I heard about Pittsburgh, I didn’t really watch but I heard they were chanting we want Angle. I saw a lot of tweets going out there, I do believe I started trending that night. I’m sure that was quite a surprise to WWE. I know that the fans wants me back, I understand. I had a great career there, it’s where I started and obviously a lot of people want me to finish there.

You can listen to the entire interview at Live Audio Wrestling

Live WrestleMania 32 Kickoff Show To Air On USA Network

WWE issued the following:

USA NETWORK TO PREMIERE LIVE WRESTLEMANIA KICKOFF SHOW ON SUNDAY, APRIL 3

Special SMACKDOWN with Live Segments from AT&T Stadium to Air Thursday, March 31 and WWE HALL OF FAME Special to Premiere Thursday, April 7

NEW YORK – March 18, 2016 – For the first time ever, USA Network, the exclusive cable home to WWE’s marquee properties, announces expanded access to WRESTLEMANIA, WWE’s biggest event of the year. Between March 31 and April 7, the network will feature multiple events, including a live, one-hour broadcast of the official WRESTLEMANIA KICKOFF SHOW, a special SMACKDOWN episode with live segments, the one-hour WWE HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY, and a movie marathon celebrating Dwayne “The Rock®” Johnson.

On Thursday, March 31 from 8-10PM ET/PT, SMACKDOWN will feature live segments from AT&T Stadium just days before WRESTLEMANIA 32.

On Sunday, April 3, USA’s live hour of the WRESTLEMANIA KICKOFF SHOW will start at 6PM ET/3PM PT and include the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, featuring 20 WWE Superstars. WRESTLEMANIA 32 will broadcast live from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. And leading in and out of the live kickoff show, USA Network will celebrate with a movie marathon featuring WWE homegrown star Dwayne “The Rock®” Johnson, with films including The Rundown, Faster, Fast Five and GI Joe Retaliation.

The night after, on Monday, April 4, an all-new WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW will feature the fallout from the action of WRESTLEMANIA 32.

Then on Thursday, April 7 at 10PM ET/PT, immediately following SMACKDOWN, USA will broadcast the one-hour 2016 WWE HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY special. WWE Legends including Sting, Big Boss Man and The Fabulous Freebirds will be immortalized for their accomplishments and contributions to sports entertainment in this year’s WWE Hall of Fame class.

In 2016, USA Network became the exclusive cable home to WWE’s marquee properties, offering fans the live WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW for three hours every week (8-11PM ET/PT) and SMACKDOWN on Thursdays from 8-10PM ET/PT. In 2016 to date, MONDAY NIGHT RAW is averaging 4.09MM total viewers, 1.91MM P25-54 and 1.87MM P18-49 L7 and SMACKDOWN on USA is averaging 2.82MM P2+, 1.23MM P25-54, and 1.15MM P18-49+ L7, making USA the #1 cable entertainment network across the key demos on Monday and Thursday nights. In 2015, the two programs reached 50MM viewers.

WWE.COM Exclusive interview: Sting on the Hall of Fame, his WWE experience and whether he has competed in his final match

Source: WWE.com

Since his shocking first appearance at Survivor Series 2014, Sting’s time with WWE has been as turbulent as it’s been triumphant. From his WrestleMania thriller with Triple H, to his unfortunate injury against Seth Rollins at Night of Champions 2015, Sting has truly run the gamut during his 16-month run with WWE. Now, with just a few weeks before he becomes forever immortalized in the WWE Hall of Fame, and with rumors swirling about his in-ring future, The Icon sits down with WWE.com to reflect on the past and look ahead to the future.

WWE.COM: During interviews you have given in recent months you revealed that surgery was on the table as a potential option in the wake of the spinal injuries you sustained during your Night of Champions 2015 match with Seth Rollins. Did you ultimately have surgery?

STING: I actually did not have surgery. Two neurologists [Dr. Joseph Maroon and one in Houston] were saying the same thing. The side effects you’re supposed to have, I’m not really having any. I’m feeling good [and] completely normal.

WWE.COM: With that in mind, it had been reported that you were diagnosed with spinal stenosis. Is that diagnosis now inaccurate?

STING: I am not saying that is inaccurate. I’m agreeing there probably is spinal stenosis or cervical spinal stenosis. I have had certain doctors tell me, “You know, so many athletes of all ages, they’ve got this. They deal with it to some degree or another.” I had one doctor here tell me, “You’re fine, you’re okay — you don’t have anything to worry about.” And then wrestlers say, “I’d see this doctor.” “No, I’d see this one over there.” I’m telling you, it’s just craziness. So I’m thinking, as long as I’m feeling good, why am I going to do anything? And the one thing everyone has said is don’t go under the knife unless you absolutely have to.

WWE.COM: Had you not had this injury setback last September, do you think we would have you seen performing at WrestleMania this year? Or, is that just too tough a question to answer because of all the variables?

STING: Oh no, it’s an easy one to answer: Yes. If I had my way, yes, of course. I would have loved to have done one more WrestleMania and I would have called it quits at that point. The Undertaker match — that’s what I wanted to do.

WWE.COM: Had there been any early discussions prior to the injury of what your role could be at WrestleMania 32? Or, was it just something that you had in your mind?

STING: Yes, it was in my mind, of course, but everyone knew that I definitely wanted to have that one match. And, of course, WrestleMania would have been the place to do it. But, I got hurt and the rest is

Luke Harper Injured & Braun Strowman Attacked by Fan In A Dark Match At Last Night’s RAW

In the video below from a dark match at last night’s RAW, you can see Luke Harper injury his right knee at the 0.05 mark. Harper is in the corner punching away at Reigns when his right knee appeared to blow out. Bray Wyatt tagged into the match while Harper rolled to the outside. At the 2:50 mark, Harper is helped to the back by Wyatt and Strowman.

In the same video you can see at the 1.20 mark, Braun Strowman was attacked by a fan and Strowman alerted officials about it.

IC Title Ladder Match Added To WrestleMania 32, Stipulation Added To Shane VS Undertaker HIAC Match

Last night on RAW, Dolph Ziggler, The Miz and Sami Zayn all wanted a shot at Kevin Owens’ Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania. Owens says he will talk to Stephanie McMahon to set up a Triple Threat Match and the winner will face him at Mania. Stephanie agreed to allow Owens to set up the match.

When it came time for the match, Owens told Lillian that he’s got this and did the ring introductions. He brought out Stardust, Sin Cara and Zack Ryder for the #1 contender’s match. During the match, Zayn, Miz & Ziggler came out argued with Owens, and then all heck broke loose. The match ended and was apparently ruled a no contest.

Owens went to see Stephanie again, and She announced that Owens will defend his Title against all six of them in a Ladder Match at WrestleMania.

Intercontinental Championship – Ladder Match: (C) Kevin Owens VS Sami Zayn VS The Miz VS Dolph Ziggler VS Stardust VS Sin Cara VS Zack Ryder

 

Also last night on RAW, Vince McMahon announced that if the Undertaker doesn’t defeat Shane McMahon in their Hell in a Cell Match at WrestleMania then it will be his last. It has already been announced that if Shane wins he gets control of RAW.

 

Plus, AJ Styles issued a challenge to Chris Jericho for WrestleMania.

Chris Jericho responds to AJ Styles challenge in this RAW Fallout Video:

Here is the updated WrestleMania 32 card:

Hell in a Cell Match: Shane McMahon VS The Undertaker: If Shane wins he gets control of RAW. If Undertaker loses it will be his last WrestleMania Match.

WWE World Heavyweight Championship: (C) Triple H VS Roman Reigns

No Holds Barred Street Fight: Dean Ambrose VS Brock Lesnar w/Paul Heyman

Divas Championship – Triple Threat Match: (C) Charlotte w/Ric Flair VS Sasha Banks VS Becky Lynch

4 on 3 Handicap Match: The New Day VS The League of Nations

Intercontinental Championship – Ladder Match: (C) Kevin Owens VS Sami Zayn VS The Miz VS Dolph Ziggler VS Stardust VS Sin Cara VS Zack Ryder

United States Championship: (C) Kalisto VS Ryback

The Dudley Boyz VS The Usos

The 3rd Annual Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal